παραχειμ-ᾰσία G3915
wintering, spending the winter season in a place
A nautical and travel term denoting the act of spending winter in a location, especially waiting out the season when seas were dangerous for sailing. Ancient Mediterranean shipping largely ceased from November to March due to storms. Acts 27:12 describes the harbor at Phoenix in Crete as unsuitable for wintering, prompting the ill-fated decision to sail toward a better winter anchorage. The term captures the seasonal rhythms that governed ancient travel and the strategic decisions those patterns forced.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 27:12 mentions Fair Havens being unsuitable 'for wintering' (παραχειμασίαν). The translations (English 'wintering', Spanish 'invernar', French 'hivernage') preserve the seasonal stay. The harbor's limitations drove the decision to sail for Phoenix despite advancing season—a choice with catastrophic consequences. Luke's detail highlights how practical concerns (finding adequate winter quarters) intersect with divine providence, sometimes producing storms that serve God's larger purposes. 1×
AR["التَّشْتِيَةِ"]·ben["শীতে-থাকিতে"]·DE["παραχειμασίαν"]·EN["wintering"]·FR["hivernage"]·heb["חֲרִיפוּת-הַחֹרֶף"]·HI["जाड़ारहने"]·ID["musim-dingin,"]·IT["svernamento"]·jav["nginep-mangsa-asrep,"]·KO["겨울나기에"]·PT["invernar,"]·RU["зимовки"]·ES["invernar"]·SW["kukaa-wakati-wa-baridi"]·TR["kışlamak"]·urd["سردیاں-گزارنا"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
παραχειμ-ᾰσία, ἡ, wintering in a place, NT+2nd c.BC+